I am working on a project that requires remote access to an industrial monitoring device. We setup a T-Mobile account with a hotspot, installed the hotspot in a MulitTech rcell cellular modem. Setup DDNS and configured the openvpn server on the modem/router.

Couldn't make a vpn connection, tried port forwarding and ports wouldn't open. Installed the sim into the original hotspot and forwarded test ports on a laptop and ports remained closed.

Is this a limitation of the carriers network? Sharing the IP with others?

If so, are their specific carriers that will give a static IP address? I know ATM company's have remote access to their ATMs via cellular, what do they use?

4 Replies

I am working on a project that requires remote access to an industrial monitoring device. We setup a T-Mobile account with a hotspot, installed the hotspot in a MulitTech rcell cellular modem. Setup DDNS and configured the openvpn server on the modem/router.

Couldn't make a vpn connection, tried port forwarding and ports wouldn't open. Installed the sim into the original hotspot and forwarded test ports on a laptop and ports remained closed.

Is this a limitation of the carriers network? Sharing the IP with others?

If so, are their specific carriers that will give a static IP address? I know ATM company's have remote access to their ATMs via cellular, what do they use?

Thanks for the help.

Derek

Depending on your location and your ISP, they may or may not be offering "Enterprise mobile/cellular" lines. Some consumer mobile lines do not allow VPN or have very strict VPN regulations. You need to check with your ISP or telco.

If you say ATMs as in Bank Tellers, they use specific "mobile" data lines, most do not allow voice calls and can have up to 4 lines (therefore you notice most of 4 ATMs per location or multiple of 4s).

I had a similar issue previously with getting a VPN into the.hotspot. Some cell carriers use NAT so the address you see is not directly pointing back to your device, while others are but block VPN connections and port forwarding inbound. I ended up implementing a wireless point.to point.solution to get it working in my case, but the buildings were less than 1,000 feet apart. Not sure how far you are dealing with or what kind of environment (Urban vs rural) but you may be able to use ubiquity or some other point to point long range wireless if there is a line of sight that is not too far away.